Holly Payne

Kingdom of Simplicity Holly Payne First edition

In 1994, author Holly Payne (The Virgin's Knot and The Sound of Blue) was struck by a drunk driver and left unable to walk for nearly a year. The driver wrote a letter, asking for forgiveness but rather than respond with a letter, she wrote him this book, inspired by the Amish practice of forgiveness. In Kingdom of Simplicity, Payne, a native of Amish Country Lancaster, Pennsylvania, invites the reader into the world of Eli Yoder, a misguided Amish youth, who, after losing his family in a tragic accident, has struggled with forgiving the perpetrator. True to Amish tradition, everyone he knows has moved on with their lives except him. Shamed by his unwillingness to forgive, Eli leaves home during rumspringa, the time of 'running around' for Amish youth before they accept their faith, and searches for acceptance from the Outside World. Here a surprising friendship teaches Eli how to laugh again and prepares him to confront the biggest questions of his life. Written in simple, striking prose, Kingdom of Simplicity paints a detailed portrait of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania its countryside, its markets, and the inner-workings of its homes giving the reader an authentic perspective on the Amish that's rare in literature. For anyone who seeks forgiveness or is confronted with the choice to forgive, Kingdom of Simplicity is an invitation to live from the heart and heal.